The East Church choir presented Britten's A Ceremony of Carols during Worship. That high point was followed by the annual Advent Luncheon which this year was combined with the Crafts event. What a day of inspiring music and warm fellowship.

Our Progressive Supper has nothing to do with a political position! Rather, it means the attendees move ("progress") from one house to another. We're all together in one home for appetizers, another home for dinner and a third home for dessert. Held on Saturday, November 16, the 2013 Progressive Supper was a happy commotion, filled with conversation and connections and laughter. Food and fellowship were both spectacular and abundant. We were so happy for the opportunity to catch up with old friends and to make new friends. Thanks to Lynn for organizing the event, to the gracious folks who opened their homes to guests and to David who capably assumed the role of Deputy Church Photographer!

Saturday, September 28 certainly was a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

Under Susan Harvey's leadership, East Church's Growth and Development committee partnered with the Friends of Crane Field to organize and execute a Centennial Celebration for Crane Field, followed by a Block Party extravaganza that will be remembered and talked about for a long time. Skies were clear, temperatures were perfect, speeches were brief, food was abundant, faces were painted, prizes were awarded, old friends were greeted and new friendships were forged. Thanks to the many East Church friends and members who contributed to the success of this event, and who dared to wear the extremely green t-shirts Susan provided. It was a tangible expression of our core values of building and serving community, and this was not lost on the community that surrounds East Church.

In addition to Susan, thanks go to the planning committee which included David Bacon, Betsy Lusa, Steve and Vicki Nelson, Allyson Palmer, Mike Maholchic and Pastor Mark for hours of time prior to the event, and to dozens of East Church members who made the day a success by moving tables and chairs, painting faces, reading stories, grilling hamburgers and staffing the Church information and raffle tables.

Thanks to Glenn Kidder for pulling this off, thanks to Cornell Coley of HandReach for leading us in our third annual Drum Circle and thanks to Susan Harvey and members of the Milk & Honey Baking Collaborative. Proceeds from the event went to support HandReach's mission, as well as OneFund Boston.

The East Church Music Committee presented the 2013 Champagne Brunch in Lisa and Nancy's sun-filled home on Sunday, April 21. Glorious music was provided by Lynn Salmonsen, piano, Scott Woolweaver, viola and Sung Hee Kim, soprano. Equally glorious edibles were provided by accomplished volunteers. It was a afternoon of joyous fellowship. Thanks to everyone who played a role in making this event happen.

Following Worship on April 7, East Church was thrilled to present a panel discussion entitled "New Perspectives: Connecting to the Future." Seven local officials and social services representatives from Milton and Quincy accepted our invitation to participate.

The panelists were asked to comment, from their individual perspectives, on what they view as the biggest issues in our communities both currently and in the near future, and also how faith communities in general and East Church in particular can minister to those issues.

Participants in the panel were Richard Wells (Chief, Milton Police), Claire Hagen (Interfaith Social Services), Mary Gormley (Superintendent of Schools, Milton), Michael Cunningham (Veteran Affairs Coordinator), Mary Anne Sullivan (Milton Council on Aging), Anne Mahoney (Quincy School Committee) and Brian Palmucci (Quincy City Council).

East Church rocked Fellowship Hall with another exuberant "Birthday Bash" on March 9. One of the most raucous bonding events of our year, the Bash is also a highly effective "mixer." Partcipants are seated by birth month which makes age or previous connections irrelevant. Some of the more outgoing months gave brief performances. There was a Parade of Cakes. Thanks to Donna for organizing the Bash, to Ellen who carefully stores the table decorations, to the volunteers who baked fabulous cakes and to David and Deena whose tireless efforts in the kitchen made the event go without a hitch.